Card-storing device

ABSTRACT

A device comprising support means including a pair of members bent in zigzag fashion for supporting in a number of valleys formed in the support means a number of aperture cards, microfiches or other information cards each having projections on opposite sides thereof. The cards are held in position by the biasing force of resilient means urging the zigzag support means into a contracted position by its biasing force. When any card is to be retrieved from among the cards stored in the device, a retriever is inserted in the zigzag support means to bring it into an expanded position whereby the desired card can be slightly pushed out and retrieved.

United States Patent [191 Abe [451 Aug. 13, 1974 1 CARD-STORING DEVICE [75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: Ricoh Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan [22] Filed: Jan. 24, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 326,492

Takeshi Abe, Yokohama, Japan [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 25, 1972 Japan 47-9237 [52] US. Cl. 312/184 [51] Int. Cl... A47b 63/00, B42f 15/00, A47b 88/00 [58] Field of Search ..312/184;211/46, 113,120, 211/121,162,119.12,1l9.l3,119.16;

, [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,126,922 2/1915 Ulrich 312/190 2,188,669 l/1940 Ulrich 312/184 2,266,450 12/1941 Ulrich 312/190 3/1942 Ulrich ..3l2/l90 ll/l970 Cuenca ..3l2/184 Primary Examiner-Paul R. Gilliam Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Cooper, Dunham, Clark, Griffin & Moran [57] ABSTRACT A device comprising support means including a pair of members bent in zigzag fashion for supporting in a number of valleys formed in the support means a number of aperture cards, microfiches or other information cards each having projections on opposite sides thereof. The cards are held in position by the biasing force of resilient means urging the zigzag support means into a contracted position by its biasing force. When any card is to be retrieved from among the cards stored in the device, a retriever is inserted in the zigzag support means to bring it into an expanded position whereby the desired card can be slightly pushed out and retrieved.

5 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEU M191 3 I974 3. 829.188

SHEET 1 UF 2 F IG. 2 6 4.5 N2 '52 1 CARD-STORING DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a card-storing device adapted to store a number of aperture cards or punched cards, microfiches or other information cards therein and retrieve any card as desired therefrom.

In storing aperture cards, microfiches or other information cards, it is required to store a maximum of the cards in a minimum of space. This is particularly the case with devices for storing a multitude of items of information in microfilms or microfiches.

However, when a large number of information cards are stored in one device, difficulty is faced with in re trieving a desired card readily without any trouble. The use of a storing device capable of storing a large number of cards in a small space has hitherto been hampered by inability to retrieve any card as desired with ease. Moreover, there is the danger of damaging the cards when a desired card is to be retrieved when a large number of cards are stored in a small space. If the cards are damaged, the information contained therein will be lost forever.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention has as its object the provision of a novel card-storing devicewhich permits a maximum number of information cards, such for example as aperture cards or microfiches, to be stored in a minimum of space. For convenience of reference, the term information cards will be used herein to designate all the various kinds of cards, i.e., including aperture cards and microfiches, with which the present device may be used.

According to the invention, there is provided a cardstoring device comprising support means including a pair of support members bent in zigzag fashion into a multitude of bends forming valleys for supporting therein a multitude of information cards each having projections on opposite sides thereof, resilient means urging the zigzag bends of the support means into a contracted position by its biasing force, and a retriever adapted to be inserted in the zigzag bends of the support means to bring the same into an expanded position whereby a desired card can be retrieved from among the multitude of information cards.

More particularly, the invention contemplates the provision of a device including two elongated flexible card-supporting members extending in spaced parallel relation to each other for respectively holding the opposed projections of each of a plurality of information cards, each of these members having zigzag bends forming along its length a succession of projectionreceiving valleys and a succession of peaks respectively disposed intermediate the successive valleys, opposed projections of an information card being respectively received in corresponding valleys of the two members. The term parallel relation," as hereinused, includes arrangements wherein the two flexible members extend along arcs or circles having a common radius and spaced apart along a common axis of curvature, as well as arrangements wherein the members extend along parallel straight lines. The term flexible members embraces a continuous integral member and also an array of shorter elements disposed in an effectively flexible assembly.

Further in accordance with the invention, the device includes means for supporting all the peaks of each member for movement relative to each other along a common path extending longitudinally of the member, means for resiliently biasing all the peaks of each member toward each other in their common path, and means for separating selected adjacent peaks of at least one of the members in the common path thereof, against the force of the biasing means, to facilitate access to an information card having a projection disposed in the valley between the selected adjacent peaks.

Further features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description hereinbelow set forth, together with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic top plan view of a card-storing device embodying the invention in a particular form;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary schematic plan view of the device of FIG. 1, illustrating the relation between the retriever, in its stand-by position and the cards held by the holders;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 illustrating the relation between the retriever in its operative position and the cards held by the holders;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view of another embodiment of the invention using a modified form of holders;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the holders shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a sectional side view of still another embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 5, the device of the invention includes a circular shaft 1 rotatably disposed in the device, and elongated support means including two elongated support members 2 and 3 mounted around opposite ends of shaft 1 in spaced parallel relation to each other, i.e., extending along circles having a common radius, and spaced apart along a common axis of curvature coincident with the axis of shaft 1. These support members 2 and 3 are each bent in zigzag fashion lengthwise thereof to provide a multitude of valleys 2.1, 2.2 2.) 2-1 and 3.1, 3.2 3.n-1 of equal length. The bottoms of valleys 2.1, 2.2, etc., and 3.1, 3.2, etc., respectively formed in members 2 and 3 are parallel to shaft 1, so that any pair of bends of support members 2 and 3 forming one of the valleys are bent toward and away from shaft 1.

The peaks or end portions of the bends of support members 2 and 3 remote from shaft 1 are fixed to support elements or holders 4.1, 4.2, 4.3 4.11 and 5.1, 5.2, 5.3 5.n respectively and spaced apart from shaft 1 a predetermined distance. Holders 4.1 to 4.n and 5.1 to SJ: are movably supported in cantilever fashionby guide channels or tracks 6 and 7 respectively. The guide means thus provided, i.e., including guide channels 6 and 7 (which are supported by support posts 8 and 9 respectively), each form an annular path which'is coaxial with the shaft 1, which is rotatably supported by support posts 8 and 9. That is, each of the guide channels 6 or 7 together with associated holders 4 or constitutes a means for supporting the peaks of its associated support member 2 or 3 for movement relative to'each other along a common path extending longitudinally of that member.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that elon- I gated support members 2 and 3 are bent in zigzag fashion into a plurality of pairs of bends forming valleys 2.1, 2.2 2.n-1 and 3.1, 3.2 3.n-.1 respectively (with a corresponding succession of peaks respectively intermediate the successive valleys) and supported, at the end portions or peaks thereof remote from shaft 1, by holders 4.1 to 4.n-1 and 5.1 to 5.n-1 respectively for movement along paths concentric with shaft 1 respectively. Each of the valleys 2.1 to 2.n-1 and 3.1 to 3.n-1 need not be in the form of an acute angle but may merely extend loosely toward shaft 1. The plurality of pairs of bends need not be contiguous with each other but may be formed as separate bodies supported by posts 4.1 to 4.n and 5.1 to 5.ri respectively at end portions remote from shaft 1.

Resilient means comprising a plurality of springs 10,

i for example, is mounted between holders 4.1 and 4.n

and 5.1 and 5.n respectively to urgeholders 4.1 to 4.n and 5.1 to 5.n into engagement with one another so as to bring support members 2 and 3 into a contracted poin the device are formed at opposite ends thereof with projections 12.1, 12.2 12.n- 1 and 13.1, 13.2 13.n-1 respectively. The cards may be made of paper or any other material and may be rectangular or otherwise in' shape, so long as they are in sheet form. The cards 11.1 to 11.n-1 may, for example, be microfiches 14.1, 14.2. 14.n-a each provided at one end thereof witha clip 15.1, 15.2 15.n-l secured thereto and having projections 12.1 to 12.n-1 and 13.1 13.n-1 at opposite ends thereof.

In storing cards 11.1 to 11.n-1 in the device, a card 11.1 is first held at the clip 15.1 by hand and inserted between valleys 2.1 and 3.1 and holders 4.1 and 4.2 and 5.1 and 5.2 are moved away from each other against the biasing forces of springs 10 to permit the projections 12.1 and 13.1 of cardl1.1 to pass therebetween. Thereafter, the holders 4.1 and 4.2 and 5.1 and 5.2 are allowed to be moved toward each other by the biasing forces of springs 10, so that opposite end projections 12.1 and 13.1 of card 11.1 are held in place in .valleys 2.1 and 3.1 respectively.

Then, a card 11.2 is inserted between valleys 2.2 and 3.2 and the opposite end projections 12.2 and 13.2 are moved between holders 4.2 and 4.3 and 5.2 and 5.3 respectively so that the projections 12.2 and 13.2 may be held in place in valleys 2.2 and 3.2 respectively. Cards 11.3 to 11.n-1 are handled in like manner so that the opposite end projections 12.3 to 12.n-1 and 13.3 to 13.n-1 are held in position in valleys 2.3 to 2.n-1 and 3.3 to 3.n-1 respectively. Thus all the cards are supported radially about shaft 1 and stored in the device,

being held therein by the biasing action of the springs 10.

If a magnet or magnets (not shown) are disposed in shaft 1 and cards 11.1 to 11.n-1 each have an iron piece (also not shown) attached thereto, cards 11.1 to ,1 1.n-1 can be arranged radially about shaft 1 without fail, with the heads of cards 11.1 to 11.n-1 or front ends of clips 15.1 to 15.n-1 being disposed on a circle which is concentric with shaft 1. It is to be understood that the cards may be stored in any order in any positions in the device, and that not only one but a plurality of cards, say 20 cards, can be held in position in a pair of valleys.

Assuming that the heads of the cards stored in the aforementioned manner in the device are spaced apart from each other 1 millimeter, a plurality of arcs formed by the heads of 1,000 cards stored in the device will each be 1,000 millimeters in circumference. If each arc is considered as a circle of diameter D, 1rD 1,000 and D is approximately equal to 320 mm. Taking the length of spring 10 into consideration, each arc will have an angular extent of about 350.

When it is desired to retrieve a desired card, say a card 11.3, from among the cards stored in this way, a retriever 15 is inserted between the holders 4.3 and 4.4 and 5.3 and 5.4 which hold the desired card 11.3 between them to increase the spacing between the holders against the biasing force of springs 10. The retriever 15 may, for example, be shaped in the form of an acute angle in its lower portion. It is to be understood that it is not necessary to insert the retriever 15 both between holders 4.3 and 4.4 and between holders 5.3 and 5.4, and that the retriever 15 has only to be inserted between either holders 4.3 and 4.4 or 5.3 and 5.4.

The retriever 15 is inserted between holders 4.3 and 4.4 and 5.3 and 5.4 in a position nearer to end portions of card 11.3 adjacent guide channels 6 and 7 respectively than to opposite end projections 12.3 and 13.3 of the card. Holders 4.3..and 4.4 and 5.3 and 5.4 move away from each other along guide channels 6 and 7 respectively, i.e., the spacing between them is increased by the retriever 15 inserted therebetween. As a result, valleys 2.3 and 3.3 are flattened as opposite ends of the bends forming the valleys move along circles concentric with shaft 1, and the opposite end projections 12.3 and 13.3 of card 11.3 are moved upwardly as shown in FIG. 5 with reference to the end projection 12.3 alone. Thus, card 11.3 is raised to a level higher than the level of other cards and can readily be removed by hand.

In other words, the wedge-shaped retriever 15 constitutes a means for separating selected adjacent holders 4 and/or 5 so as to separate adjacent peaks of the support member 2 and/or 3, against the force of the biasing springs 10. The support members, in this embodiment, are flexible members having substantially constant length between adjacent peaks. Consequently, as the retriever 15 separates adjacent peaks of a support member along their common path of movement, the depth of the valley between those peaks is reduced; and this reduction in valley depth elevates a projection of an information card therein contained, so as to lift the card out of alignment with adjacent cards for ease of removal from the device. When the retriever 15 is withdrawn from between adjacent holders 4 or 5, the holders are urged together once more by the force of springs 10.

The retriever 15 is also useful in storing cards in thedevice.

As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, corresponding pairs of holders 1.1 to 4.n-1 and 5.1 to 5.n-1 may be formed as integral rods 16.1 to 16.n-1, and opposite ends of each of rods 16.1 to 16.n1 may be respectively received in guide channels 6 and 7 for movement therealong.

Cards 11.1 to 11.n-1 may, as shown in FIG. 8, be provided with rod-shaped clips 15.1 to 15.11-1' respectively instead of the web-shaped clips 15.1 to 15.n-1 illustrated in other figures. Clips 15.1 to 15.n-1 may be done without and opposite end portions of the cards themselves may be extended to provide the support projections for the cards. Projections 12.1 to 12.n-1 and 13.1 to 13.n-1, shown as projecting from opposite ends, may instead be made to project from the middle portions of the opposite sides of the cards.

As shown in FIG. 9, shaft 1 may be replaced by a planar bottom plate 1.7, and guide channels 6 and 7 may be formed as straight channels 6' and 7; Members 2 and 3 then extend along spaced parallel straight lines. Vertical support plates 18 and 19 may be provided at opposite ends of straight guide channels 6' and 7', and the springs 10 may be interposed between either of vertical support plates 18 and 19 and holders 1.1 to 4.11 and 5.1 to 5.11 or between any adjacent holders 4.1 to 4.n-l and 5.1 to 5.n-1, so as to exert the biasing force of spring 10 on holders 11 to 4l.n and 5.1 to 5.71.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the features and embodiments hereinabove specifically set forth but may be carried out in other ways without departure from its spirit.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device for holding a plurality of information cards of predetermined dimensions each bearing a pair of opposed projections respectively extending outwardly from opposite side edges of the card at a locality substantially above the bottom thereof, in combination,

a. two elongated flexible members extending in spaced parallel relation to each other for respectively holding the opposed projections of each of a plurality of information cards, each of said members having zigzag bends forming along its length a succession of projection-receiving valleys and a succession of peaks respectively disposed intermediate the successive valleys, opposed projections of an information card being respectively received in corresponding valleys of the two members, each portion of each said member between adjacent peaks thereof being of substantially constant length, each of said valleys being free to move in a direction toward said peaks, and having a maximum depth substantially smaller than the dimension of said cards in a direction parallel to said side edges, and said members being spaced apart by a distance greater than the dimension of said cards between said side edges such that when the opposed projections of a card are respectively received in the corresponding valleys of the two members, such card projects beyond said valleys in a direction away from said members;

b. means for supporting all the peaks of each member for movement relative to each other along a common path extending longitudinally of the member, said supporting means being disposed to permit insertion of said cards in said device, for reception of projections of the cards by said valleys, in a direction parallel to the side edges of said cards;

c. means for resiliently biasing all the peaks of each 1 member toward each other in said common path; and

d. means insertable between selected adjacent peaks of at least one of the members in the common path thereof for separating said selected adjacent peaks, against the force of said biasing means, to facilitate access to an information card having a projection disposed in the valley intermediate said selected adjacent peaks;

e. each portion of each said member between adjacent peaks thereof being of such length, in relation to the depth of said valleys and the extent of relative separating movement of adjacent peaks effected by said separating means, that separation of adjacent peaks by said separating means reduces the depth of the valley therebe'tween for lifting an information card having a projection held in the last-mentioned valley out of alignment with other information cards having projections held in valleys adjacent thereto.

2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said two members respectively extend along arcs having a common radius and are spaced apart along a common axis of curvature.

3. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said two members respectively extend along parallel straight lines.

4. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said peaksupporting means comprises i. a plurality of support elements respectively secured to each of the peaks of each of said members, and

ii. a track extending longitudinally of each of said members for movably holding the support elements respectively secured to each of the peaks thereof.

toward each other. 

1. In a device for holding a plurality of information cards of predetermined dimensions each bearing a pair of opposed projections respectively extending outwardly from opposite side edges of the card at a locality substantially above the bottom thereof, in combination, a. two elongated flexible members extending in spaced parallel relation to each other for respectively holding the opposed projections of each of a plurality of information cards, each of said members having zigzag bends forming along its length a succession of projection-receiving valleys and a succession of peaks respectively disposed intermediate the successive valleys, opposed projections of an information card being respectively received in corresponding valleys of the two members, each portion of each said member between adjacent peaks thereof being of substantially constant length, each of said valleys being free to move in a direction toward said peaks, and having a maximum depth substantially smaller than the dimension of said cards in a direction parallel to said side edges, and said members being spaced apart by a distance greater than the dimension of said cards between said side edges such that when the opposed projections of a card are respectively received in the corresponding valleys of the two members, such card projects beyond said valleys in a direction away from said members; b. means for supporting all the peaks of each member for movement relative to each other along a common path extending longitudinally of the member, said supporting means being disposed to permit insertion of said cards in said device, for reception of projections of the cards by said valleys, in a direction parallel to the side edges of said cards; c. means for resiliently biasing all the peaks of each member toward each other in said common path; and d. means insertable between selected adjacent peaks of at least one of the members in the common path thereof for separating said selected adjacent peaks, against the force of said biasing means, to facilitate access to an information card having a projection disposed in the valley intermediate said selected adjacent peaks; e. each portion of each said member between adjacent peaks thereof being of such length, in relation to the depth of said valleys and the extent of relative separating movement of adjacent peaks effected by said separating means, that separation of adjacent peaks by said separating means reduces the depth of the valley therebetween for lifting an information card having a projection held in the last-mentioned valley out of alignment with other information cards having projections held in valleys adjacent thereto.
 2. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said two members respectively extend along arcs having a common radius and are spaced apart along a common axis of curvature.
 3. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said two members respectively extend along parallel straight lines.
 4. A device as defined in claim 1, wherein said peak-supporting means comprises i. a plurality of support elements respectively secured to each of the peaks of each of said members, and ii. a track extending longitudinally of each of said members for movably holding the support elements respectively secured to each of the peaks thereof.
 5. A device as defined in claim 4, wherein saiD biasing means comprises a spring associated with each said track and urging all the support elements held therein toward each other. 